take a ROAD TRIP

Planning a road trip? Set your phone GPS for the only place in America where the Mother Road of Route 66 meets the Great River Road and plan on 48 hours of Fall fun in the Great Rivers & Routes region of southwest Illinois.

BRING YOUR SENSE OF ADVENTURE and explore the Last 100 Miles of Route 66 in Illinois where quirky Americana comes to life. It’s not just a road trip – it’s a way of life.

LUCKY

In Litchfield

Explore the Last 100 Miles of Route 66 in Illinois with a stop in Litchfield. The Litchfield Welcome Center and Route 66 Museum offers a look at the city’s past and its place on the Mother Road. Let the neon lights guide you.

views for miles & miles

Sitting on top of the Mississippi River bluffs along the Great River Road, The Nature Institute in Godfrey offers hiking trails and unparalleled views of wildlife, plant life and the magnificent Mississippi River.

World Heritage

Nearly forgotten and saved from extinction 60 years ago, Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site in Collinsville offers a look at prehistoric Native American life. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Cahokia Mounds is home to Monk’s Mound and more than two dozen smaller mounds making it the largest mound system north of Mexico. It is located on and near Route 66 and the Great River Road.

A Drive To Remember

A trip along the 33-mile stretch of the Meeting of the Great Rivers National Scenic Byway (part of the Great River Road in Illinois) is unforgettable. Running alongside the Mississippi River, the Byway showcases the confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers in Hartford and the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers in Grafton. Along the way, the impressive views are photo-worthy. Stop in the riverfront communities of Alton, Elsah and Grafton for great dining, overnight stays and history lessons.

The Wineries Have It

HEAD SOUTH AND WEST Route 66 was the ultimate road trip adventure nearly 100 years ago. Today it’s a great way to reconnect with the past. A giant pink elephant greets visitors in Livingston at the Pink Elephant Antique Mall, a favorite road side stop for road trippers from all parts of the world. Make a pit stop in Hamel at the Route 66 Creamery for a sweet treat. Visit Edwardsville’s newly renovated West End Service Station with its neon signage and Mother Road souvenirs. It's hard to miss the giant Catsup Bottle Water Tower standing tall over Collinsville on Route 66.

Sip a glass of locally produced wine at the dozens of local wineries just off the beaten track along Route 66. The Winery at Shale Lake in Staunton, Half Witt Winery in Witt, Wild Pickins Winery in Chesterfield and Bella Vista Winery in Maryville are great places to stop while journeying down Route 66. Along the Great River Road, the Grafton Winery & Brewhaus in Grafton and Grafton Winery The Vineyards offer its fruit wines and local red wines produced at its on-site production facility.